Romsey Vanquish Ventnor In Exciting Pre-Season Friendly

Ventnor RFC played their part in an entertaining pre-season friendly match at the weekend, coming out on the wrong end of the scoreline against their impressive opponents Romsey.

With two debutants in the Island team's squad and players in unfamiliar positions, it took some time for the Ventnor to settle into their game, conceding an early try as the visitors stormed out of the traps.

As ever, it was new skipper Lewy Morton leading the tackle count but his team weren’t far behind him and some of the hits by the Wheeler brothers – Max and Harvey - were shuddering.

The game really began to open up when Fred Fairman took the ball up in a blistering run up the left which was only stopped by a wrangling tackle that led to Fairman leaving

the field with a badly jarred shoulder.

Ventnor improved as the half progressed, despite conceding two more tries as half-time

approached.

By this time Iain Reeves had had to leave the field with as the aftermath of a chest infection

began to take hold and another debutant – Jordan Allen – came on.

Trailing at halftime by a score of 24 – 0, Ventnor played far better in the second half,

with the irrepressible Max Wheeler scoring a try and Tom Crews slotting the conversion to make it 24-7.

Joe Coghlan bookended the half by galloping in for a second Ventnor try to ensure that the second period was drawn, albeit the overall score saw Romsey triumph 36-12.

Team:  Rushton, Brown, Lythgoe, Coltham, I.Reeves, Coghlan, L.Morton (capt), H.Wheeler, Souter, Malkin, M.Wheeler, Fairman, McKinney, Crews. Subs: Allen, Gilbey, Martin

Travelling Coaches: Clive Cardwell-Hill and Todd Riches

The A.J.Wells Man of the Match: Harvey Wheeler

The Red Funnel Moment of the Match: Max Wheeler

Howden Insurance Supporters of the Day: Sean Frampton and Fergus Kenny